Burner systems configured to control at least one geometric characteristic of a flame and related methods

ABSTRACT

In an embodiment, a burner system is configured to control a geometry of a flame. The burner system includes electrodes configured to have a polarity selected to interact with a flame that has been charged with a charger to control at least one geometric characteristic of the flame.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.61/764,609 filed on 14 Feb. 2013, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein, in its entirety, by this reference.

BACKGROUND

There are many technologies where heat is needed and the heat is oftengenerated by burning fuel in a burner system. The fuel is delivered tothe burner system and combustion occurs in a flame area (e.g., at thenozzle), resulting in a flame. Flames also have a tendency to floatupwards regardless of how the burner is oriented. The tendency of theflame to float upwards may be compensated by pressurizing the fuel togive more direction to the flame. This enables a burner system and theburner system's flame to be oriented in different directions and enablesmany different applications.

While the general direction of a flame may be controlled using theflame's momentum, controlling other aspects of the flame such as theflame height is more challenging. Further, the ability to control otheraspects of the flame, while still controlling the flame geometry isfurther complicated by the need to control pollutants, heat transfer,fuel consumption, or the like.

Therefore, improved burner systems and methods are needed to control aflame and for improving the combustion process.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the invention relate to burner systems for controlling ageometry (e.g., flame height) of a flame output therefromelectrodynamically and related methods. In an embodiment, a burnersystem is disclosed. The burner system includes a refractory body; aplurality of nozzles disposed adjacent to the refractory body andconfigured to output fuel; and a charger configured to inject chargeinto at least one of a fuel that is in communication with the pluralityof nozzles, a flame generated from combustion of the fuel, or a flamearea in order to impart a charge to the flame. The burner system furtherincludes at least one electrode disposed proximate to the refractorybody (e.g., above the refractory body and the plurality of nozzles), anda control system operably coupled to the at least one electrode. Thecontrol system is configured to bias the at least one electrode tocontrol at least one geometric characteristic of the flame, such asheight.

In an embodiment, a method of controlling a flame geometry is disclosed.The method includes outputting fuel, respectively, from a plurality ofnozzles disposed adjacent to a refractory body. The method also includescharging at least one of the fuel or a flame generated from combustionof the fuel. The method further includes biasing at least one electrodepositioned proximate to the refractory body (e.g., above the refractorybody and the plurality of nozzles) in order to control the flamegeometry, such as height.

Features from any of the disclosed embodiments may be used incombination with one another, without limitation. In addition, otherfeatures and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparentto those of ordinary skill in the art through consideration of thefollowing detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a burner system configured tocharge a flame and electrodynamically control a geometry of the flameaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 2A is an isometric view of a coaxial stage burner system thatincludes electrodes positioned to control a geometry of a flameaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 2B is a top view of the coaxial stage burner system of FIG. 2Ahaving the electrodes removed.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a burner system having a plurality ofelectrodes positioned to control a flame geometry and configured tocharge the flame according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a coaxial stage burner system thatincludes electrodes, a corona electrode, and a counter electrodeaccording to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to burner systems for controllingflame geometry electrodynamically and related methods. For example, theburner systems and methods for controlling geometric characteristics ofa flame disclosed herein may be used for controlling flame height, flamewidth, flame angle, or combinations thereof

Controlling flame geometries may be accomplished, for example, usingelectrodes and electric fields. Although flames generally includeionized gases or charged particles (ions), the mix of positive andnegative ions is such that a conventional flame as a whole may beneutral electrically. Embodiments disclosed herein may also injectcharges (e.g., positive or negative ions) into at least one of a fuel, aflame generated from combustion of the fuel, or a flame area such thatthe flame as a whole is electrically biased either positively ornegatively. The flame area may include the flame and an area around theflame, and may further include areas of uncombusted fuel. By adjustingthe electrical bias of the flame, a geometry of the flame may becontrolled by applying an appropriate electric field.

The geometry of the flame may be controlled using one or more electrodesthat may have the same charge as the biased flame or that may have adifferent charge from the biased flame. In some embodiments, the one ormore electrodes may be positively charged, negatively charged, orcombinations thereof. The placement and bias of the one or moreelectrodes may be placed and configured according to a desired flameshape or to enable control of the flame shape according to desiredranges. For example, the one or more electrodes may be positioned in ornear a buoyancy-dominated region of the flame, which may not even bevisible as opposed to a momentum-dominated region of the flame that isat or near base of the flame.

The polarities of the one or more electrodes may be controlled such thatthe flame is controlled, respectively, by repulsion or attraction. Forexample, if the flame is provided with an overall positive charge by theinjection and/or addition of positive ions, then positively biasedelectrodes may control the flame height and/or other geometry orcharacteristic of the flame by repelling the biased flame or morespecifically by repelling the positive ions in the flame. In thismanner, at least the height of the flame may be controlled.

The ability to control the flame geometry or other characteristics ofthe flame may be influenced by placement of the one or more electrodes,size and shape of the one or more electrodes, directions of electricfields, relative potentials of the one or more electrodes, relativestrengths of the corresponding electric fields, or combinations thereof.The one or more electrodes may be placed, for example, above the flame,on the sides of the flame, within the flame, or combinations thereof.The one or more electrodes may be shaped like rods, rings,partial-rings, plates, or combinations thereof. The one or moreelectrodes may also be oriented in different directions or along one ormore axes. The one or more electrodes for a given burner system may havedifferent shapes, orientations, sizes, or combinations thereof. The oneor more electrodes in a given burner system may be similarly configuredor differently configured.

Embodiments of the invention may also include other electrodes, such ascounter electrodes. One or more counter electrodes (e.g., a groundedelectrode) may be included in the burner system in order establish adesired electric field relative to other electrodes that are at adifferent potential. Other electrodes (e.g., corona electrodes) may beused to generate the ions that are added to and/or injected into fuel,the flame, the flame area, or combinations thereof to provide a chargeto the flame.

In an embodiment, the burner system may be a coaxial stage burner thatincludes a tubular refractory body defining an interior passageway. Afirst set of nozzles may be disposed adjacent to an interior surface ofthe refractory body and/or within the interior passageway and may bemounted or connected to the refractory body. A second set of nozzles maybe disposed circumferentially adjacent to an exterior surface of therefractory body. Some of the nozzles may be Venturi nozzles, whilemixing may not be performed in other embodiments of the nozzles.

In order to control the flame height, in an embodiment, one or moreelectrodes may be arranged above the flame and above the refractory bodyof the burner. The one or more electrodes may be positively ornegatively charged. If the fuel has been charged using positive ions,the one or more electrodes may be used to repel or push the flame down.This enables the height of the flame to be controlled withoutcontrolling the pressurization of the fuel, without substantiallysacrificing heat, without increasing pollutant generation, orcombinations thereof. Varying the potential of the one or moreelectrodes and/or the rate of ionization may be used to control aspectsof the flame height control. In other words, the flame height may bevaried over time by changing the potential of the one or moreelectrodes.

The following description provides a further description of flamecontrol in a burner system with reference to the Figures. In thefollowing detailed description, reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbolstypically identify similar components, unless context dictatesotherwise. Other embodiments may be used and/or other changes may bemade without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an embodiment of a burner system100 that is configured to electrodynamically control a flame and, morespecifically, is configured to control at least one geometriccharacteristic of a flame, such as height, width, or angle. The burnersystem 100 includes a burner 108 and a fuel source 110 operably coupledto and in fluid communication with the fuel source 110 to receive fueltherefrom. The fuel source 110 may provide pressurized fuel to theburner 108. Pressurizing the fuel may provide direction to the flame andmay be used at least in part to control flame height. The fuel providedby the fuel source 110 combusts in the burner 108 (e.g., as the fuelexits one or more nozzles) and produces a flame 116.

The burner system 100 further includes a control system 102 that isoperably coupled to one or more electrodes 104 and a charger 106. Thecharger 106 is configured to charge the fuel, flame 116 generated fromcombustion of the fuel, a flame area that may include the flame 116, orcombinations thereof. The charger 106 may charge the fuel and/or flameusing, for example, DC polarity or synchronized AC polarity. The charger106 may add positive or negative gaseous ions to the flame 116, the fuelflow, the flame area (which results in a biased flame), or combinationsthereof. As previously stated, a flame may include ions of differentcharges, but the overall charge of the flame 116 may be substantiallyneutral. The charger 106 is configured to charge to the flame 116 andensures that the overall charge of the flame is positively biased ornegatively biased. In some embodiments, the height of the flame 116 maybe controlled using the existing charges in the flame and the charger106 may not be required. In this embodiment, the charge and potential ofthe one or more electrodes 104 may be varied and set based on theresponse of the flame that has not been charged by the charger 106.

The one or more electrodes 104 are arranged with respect to the flame116 and/or the charger 106 such that the geometry of the flame 116(e.g., the height) may be controlled. For example, the charger 106 mayprovide the flame 116 with a positive charge as previously stated. Theone or more electrodes 104 may also be positively biased in order tocreate an electric field that acts on the positively charged flame. Bycontrolling the strength and/or direction of the electric field, theheight, width, angle, other geometric characteristic of the flame 116,or combinations thereof may be adjusted by repelling the flame with theone or more electrodes 104 that act on the charges in the flame 106. Theone electrodes 104 may also be turned off, or the potential of the oneor more electrodes 104 may be lowered in some embodiments, which wouldincrease the height of the flame 116. In an embodiment, the potential orbias of the electrodes may be made opposite to that of the flame 116,which may increase the height of the flame 116. The maximum height 114of the flame 116 may contemplate and account for situations where thepolarity of the electrodes 104 is always positive or neutral, alwaysnegative or neutral, or where the polarity may change from positive tonegative or from negative to positive.

The control system 102 may be configured to control at least the one ormore electrodes 104 and the charger 106. The control system 102 includesa voltage source that controls the potential and polarity of theelectrodes 104, the amount of charge emitted or generated by the charger106, or combinations thereof. The control system 102 may also beconfigured to control the burner 108 and the fuel source 110 (e.g., rateof fuel flow, pressure, or combinations thereof).

As previously discussed, the geometry of the flame 116 may be controlledin the burner system 100. For example, a height of the flame 116 may becontrolled within a range 112 from a maximum height 114 to a minimumheight 118. When using repulsion (the electrodes 104 and the flame 116have the same charge or polarity), the height of the flame 116 may bethe maximum height 114 when the one or more electrodes 104 are off orwhen the electrodes 104 off and pressure is maximized. Changing thepolarity of the electrodes 104 may impact the maximum height 114. Forexample, instead of repelling the flame 116, the flame 116 may beattracted to a greater height. The maximum height 114 may be influencedby fuel flow rates, pressurization, electrode polarization, electrodepotential, or combinations thereof. When the one or more electrodes 104are turned on, the one or more electrodes 104 (when the polarity ispositive) may repel the biased (positively in this embodiment) flame 116to a lower height. The height may vary according to various factorsincluding, but not limited to, potential of the electrodes 104, chargedensity of the flame 116, fuel pressurization, or combinations thereof.

The following discussion further discloses additional embodiments ofelectrode/charger configurations, such as size of electrodes, number ofelectrodes, placement of electrodes, or combinations thereof. It shouldbe noted that other configurations of the burner system and componentsthereof are within the scope of the present application. FIGS. 2A and 2Bare an isometric and a top view, respectively, of a refractory coaxialburner system 200, which is an embodiment of the burner 108. FIGS. 2Aand 2B specifically illustrates an embodiment of the refractory coaxialburner 200 that includes similarly configured components 220 (eight inthis embodiment) that are arranged generally in a circle. The components220 are each sized and configured to be connected or abutted togethersuch that each component is connected to or adjacent to similarcomponents on opposing sides of each component.

Each component 220 may include a refractory body 202 with an outsidenozzle 204 and an inside nozzle 214. For example, the refractory body202 may be made from alumina, silicon carbide, another ceramic material,other suitable refractory materials, or combinations thereof. Therefractory body 202 may be separate from the nozzles 204 and 214 and maybe replaceable. The nozzles 204 and 214 may also be changeable. Fuelenters the refractory coaxial burner 200 through a distal end thereofand combusts in a flame area such that a flame is emitted at orproximate to the nozzles 204 and 214. The nozzles 204 and 214 may besized the same or differently and the specific configuration of thenozzles 204 and 214 may be selected based on a particular application.

With reference specifically to FIG. 2A, the refractory coaxial burnersystem 200 further includes electrodes and a charger that may becontrolled to manage the shape or geometry of the flame of the burner200. The refractory body 202, which may be formed by coupling multiplecomponents together, defines an interior 220. Oxygen or air necessaryfor combustion may be provided through the interior 220. Alternativelyor in addition, the oxygen or air may be available in the environment.

In this embodiment, the refractory body 202 includes a concavity and/orgroove 208 that extends circumferentially about an exterior of the body202. Each component 220 may have a similar groove to form the groove208. A charger 206, which may be a corona electrode in an embodiment,may be disposed in the groove 208. A counter electrode (see FIG. 4) mayalso be disposed in or near the groove 208 in an embodiment. The charger206 may be configured to emit charged particles that are added to ordirected towards the fuel and/or flame. The charger 206 may be shaped toinclude corners or edges that are positioned such that charged ions aregenerated in the surrounding fluid (e.g., air) when the corona electrodeis sufficiently energized or at a sufficient potential.

FIG. 2A also illustrates electrodes 210 and 212 that are arranged abovethe refractory coaxial burner 200 in this embodiment. More generally,the electrodes 210 and 212 are arranged opposite the top surface of therefractory body 202 and opposite the nozzles of the nozzles. Theelectrodes 210 and 212 may be ring electrodes or partial ring electrodesin this embodiment and are placed such that the flame passes beneathand/or through the openings defined by the electrodes 210 and 212.Although the electrodes 210 and 212 are illustrated as being circular orpartially circular, the electrodes 210 and 212 may exhibit othernon-circular geometries, such as a generally rectangular ring or partialring shape or other suitable geometry. The placement and configurationof the ring electrodes 210 and 212 enables the electrodes 210 and 212 tocontrol a height of the flame by repelling the charged flame in oneembodiment.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a burner system 300 including a burner312 and electrodes 302 and 304 used to control a flame's geometry. Theburner 312 is another embodiment of the burner 108. FIG. 3 illustrateselectrodes 302 and 304 that are arranged above the body of the burner312 and opposite the nozzle openings. The electrodes 302 and 304 arering shaped electrodes in this embodiment and are arranged in a stackedconfiguration. The electrode 302 is located above the electrode 304relative to the burner 312. The electrode 302 may also have a smallerdiameter 314 than the electrode 304. In this embodiment, the electrodes302 and 304 are sized to accommodate the flame 306 and generally followthe shape of the flame 306. The interiors of the electrodes 302 and 304may collectively define a cone or tapered form. Alternatively, similarlyshaped electrodes may collectively define a cylinder shaped form.

The burner system 300 further includes a corona electrode 308, which isan embodiment of a charger. The corona electrode 308 is disposed on ornext to a body of the burner 312 or in a groove of the burner 312. Theconfiguration and placement of the corona electrode 308 may depend onthe location and configuration of the nozzles or the fuel path. Thecorona electrode 308 may be placed below the flame 306. The coronaelectrode 308 may be in or near the fuel flow. In an embodiment, thelocation of the corona electrode 308 may influence the fuel to flow awayfrom an exterior of the body of the burner 312. The concavity or groovein which the corona electrode 308 may be disposed may also haveprovisions for free gas such as fuel intake and outlet.

The corona electrode 308 may also include sharp edges or tips or otherfeatures that allow charge to be concentrated. For example, the coronaelectrode 308 may be a portion of a metallic saw blade, a row ofmetallic nails, other suitable electrode, or combinations thereof. Whenthe electric field strength is sufficient (e.g., at the edges or tips),nearby air molecules are ionized and have the same polarity as thecorona electrode 308. Because the charge of the ionized air molecules isthe same as the corona electrode, the ions are repelled away from thecorona electrode 308. The resulting repulsion of ions results in anionic wind (illustrated as ionic wind 310) that introduces the ions intothe flame 306, into the flame area, into the fuel prior to combustion,or combinations thereof. As a result, the flame 306 becomes charged dueto the introduction of charged ions or other particles.

FIG. 3 further illustrates that the electrodes 302 and 304 arepositively charged electrodes and that positive ions have beenintroduced into the fuel, the flame area or the flame via the ionic wind310 generated at the corona electrode 308. As a result, controlling thepolarity and/or potential of the electrodes 302 and/or 304 mayeffectively repel the flame 306 and lower the flame height wheredesired. Reducing the strength of the electrodes may allow the height ofthe flame 306 to increase in an embodiment. It is currently believed bythe inventors that the ability to control the flame height or othergeometry of the flame may result in reduced flame height withoutincreasing or by slowing an increase in undesirable outputs such asNO_(x). Additionally, the ionic wind 310 may also at least partiallydirect fuel away from the burner 312, which the inventors currentlybelieve may also help reduce NO_(x).

The electrodes 302 and 304 may be configured in different ways. Theelectrodes may include be arranged in a stacked configuration asillustrated in FIG. 3. In other embodiments, electrodes may be providedfor individual nozzles, pairs of nozzles, or combinations thereof. Itshould be appreciated that other electrode configurations may be used tocontrol the geometry of the flame 306. The electrode or electrodeconfiguration may vary in configuration at least by one or more ofplacement (e.g., above/below burner or flame, within flame, outside offlame), size (length, width, thickness), orientation, number, relativesize, or combinations thereof

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a refractory body 402 of a burnersystem 400 according to another more detailed embodiment. The refractorybody 402 may include multiple components that collectively form therefractory body 402 or it may be unitary. The refractory body 402includes a concavity 404 that is located in an exterior surface 405 ofthe body 402 and an interior passageway 407. The concavity 404 may belocated just below a top surface 416 of the refractory body 402 or inanother suitable location. The concavity 404 is sized and configured toaccommodate a corona electrode 410 and a counter electrode 412. Forexample, the concavity 404 may be annular along with the coronaelectrode 410 and the counter electrode 412. However, other geometriesfor the concavity 404, the corona electrode 410, and the counterelectrode 412 may be used, such as multiple concavities each of whichincludes a corresponding corona electrode and a corresponding counterelectrode. A plurality of nozzles 406 may be disposed adjacent to theexterior surface 405 and inside the passageway 407 of the refractorybody 402. The counter electrode 412 may provide a ground and enable theelectric field to be established that results in the generation of ionsto be added to a flow of fuel 408 output respectively from nozzles 406as an ionic wind. The counter electrode 412 may also establish a groundelectrode for the electrodes 414 such that the electric field from theelectrode configuration is directed down towards the refractory body 402such that the height of the flame may be controlled by repelling theflame 418 downwardly.

The corona electrode 410 operates such that ions are generated that havethe same polarity as the corona electrode 410. These ions, because theyhave the same charge, repel one another and generate an ionic wind thatpushes the ions into the fuel, the flame and/or flame area as previouslydescribed. In an embodiment, the ions generated by the corona electrode410 are added to the fuel may be attracted to the counter electrode 412.However, the operation of the corona electrode 410 and counter electrode412 results is a net addition of positive ions (or negative ions) to thefuel (or flame or flame area) such that the resulting flame or flamearea is electrically biased as discussed herein.

The burner system 400 further includes the stacked electrodes 414 thatare arranged over the flame 418. The stacked electrodes 414 are the samesize in this embodiment and are arranged in a stacked column over therefractory body 402 of the burner system 400. Because the flame or flamearea is charged by the corona electrode 410, the electrodes 414 may beused to control at least a height of the flame 418. In an embodiment,the individual electrodes in the electrodes 414 may have differentpotentials and/or different polarities.

As previously stated, the control system 102 (see FIG. 1) may be used tocontrol a potential of the electrodes (or other feature of the burnersystem such as fuel flow, charge density due to a potential of thecorona electrode, or combinations thereof) and enable the height of theflame to be controlled or varied as necessary.

The control systems of the various embodiments disclosed herein maycomprise a special purpose or general-purpose computer including variouscomputer hardware or other hardware including duplexers, amplifiers, orthe like, as discussed in greater detail below.

Embodiments within the scope of the invention also includecomputer-readable media for carrying or having computer-executableinstructions or data structures stored thereon. Such computer-readablemedia may be any available media that may be accessed by a generalpurpose or special purpose computer. By way of example, and notlimitation, such computer-readable media may comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM,CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or othermagnetic storage devices, or any other medium which may be used to carryor store desired program code means in the form of computer-executableinstructions or data structures and which may be accessed by a generalpurpose or special purpose computer. Combinations of the above shouldalso be included within the scope of computer-readable media.

Computer-executable instructions comprise, for example, instructions anddata which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer,or special purpose processing device to perform a certain function orgroup of functions, such as controlling the operation of any of theburner systems disclosed herein. Although the subject matter has beendescribed in language specific to structural features and/ormethodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matterdefined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to thespecific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific featuresand acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementingthe claims.

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, otheraspects and embodiments are contemplated. The various aspects andembodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and arenot intended to be limiting.

What is claimed is:
 1. A burner system, comprising: a refractory body; aplurality of nozzles disposed adjacent to the refractory body andconfigured to output fuel; a charger configured to inject charge into atleast one of a fuel that is in communication with the plurality ofnozzles, a flame generated from combustion of the fuel, or a flame areato impart a charge to the flame; at least one electrode disposedproximate to the refractory body; and a control system operably coupledto the at least one electrode, the control system configured to bias theat least one electrode to control at least one geometric characteristicof the flame.
 2. The burner system of claim 1 wherein the refractorybody includes a first side surface and a second side surface, andwherein the plurality of nozzles includes first nozzles located adjacentto the first side surface and second nozzles located adjacent to thesecond side surface.
 3. The burner system of claim 2 wherein the firstside surface defines an exterior side surface of the refractory body andthe second side surface defines an interior side surface of therefractory body.
 4. The burner system of claim 1 wherein the chargerincludes a corona electrode positioned adjacent to the refractory body,the corona electrode configured to generate charge for delivery into atleast one of the fuel, the flame, or the flame area.
 5. The burnersystem of claim 4 wherein the refractory body includes a concavityformed in an exterior side surface of the refractory body, and whereinthe corona electrode is disposed in the concavity.
 6. The burner systemof claim 5, further comprising a counter electrode disposed in theconcavity, wherein the corona electrode and the counter electrode arecollectively configured to generate an ionic wind that flows the chargeinto at least one of the fuel, the flame, or the flame area.
 7. Theburner system of claim 1 wherein the at least one electrode includes aplurality of electrodes.
 8. The burner system of claim 7 wherein theplurality of electrodes are arranged in a stacked configuration abovethe plurality of nozzles, and wherein the control system is configuredto bias the plurality of electrodes to repel the flame to control aheight of the flame when the polarity of the plurality of electrodes isthe same as the charge injected by the charger.
 9. The burner system ofclaim 1 wherein the at least one geometric characteristic includes atleast one of height, width, or angle.
 10. A burner system, comprising: arefractory body having a first exterior side surface and a secondinterior side surface; a plurality of first nozzles disposed adjacent tothe first exterior side surface of the refractory body; a plurality ofsecond nozzles disposed adjacent to the second exterior side surface ofthe refractory body; wherein the pluralities of first and second nozzlesare configured to output fuel; a charger configured to inject chargeinto at least one of the fuel in communication with the pluralities offirst and second nozzles, a flame generated by combustion of the fuel,or a flame area to provide a charge to the flame; at least one electrodedisposed above the pluralities of first and second nozzles; a controlsystem operably coupled to the at least one electrode, the controlsystem configured to bias the at least one electrode to control a heightof the flame.
 11. The burner system of claim 10 wherein the refractorybody includes a plurality of components arranged in a generally circularconfiguration.
 12. The burner system of claim 10 wherein the chargerincludes a corona electrode.
 13. The burner system of claim 10, furthercomprising: wherein the charger includes a corona electrode; and acounter electrode configured to interact with at least the coronaelectrode to generate the charge that is carried by an ionic wind intothe flame.
 14. The burner system of claim 13 wherein the coronaelectrode is disposed in a concavity formed in the first exterior sidesurface of the refractory body, the corona electrode and the counterelectrode configured to generate an ionic wind that flows into at leastone of the fuel, the flame, or the flame area.
 15. The burner system ofclaim 10 wherein the charger is located below a top surface of therefractory body.
 16. The burner system of claim 10 wherein the at leastone electrode is disposed generally opposite to the pluralities of firstand second nozzles.
 17. The burner system of claim 11 wherein thecontrol system is configured to bias the at least one electrode so thatthe at least one electrode has a polarity that is the same as a chargeof the flame, thereby repelling the flame from the at least oneelectrode.
 18. The burner system of claim 10 wherein the at least oneelectrode includes a stacked configuration of electrodes, each of theelectrodes of the stacked configuration having at least a partial ringshape.
 19. The burner system of claim 18 wherein the stackedconfiguration of electrodes are positioned to be either inside the flameor outside of the flame during combustion.
 20. A method of controlling aflame geometry, comprising: outputting fuel, respectively, from aplurality of nozzles disposed adjacent to a refractory body; charging atleast one of the fuel or a flame generated from combustion of the fuel;and biasing at least one electrode positioned proximate to the pluralityof nozzles to control the flame geometry.
 21. The method of claim 20wherein biasing at least one electrode positioned proximate to theplurality of nozzles to control the flame geometry includes biasing theat least one electrode to have the same polarity as the flame so thatthe flame is repelled from the at least one electrode.
 22. The method ofclaim 20 wherein biasing at least one electrode positioned proximate tothe plurality of nozzles to control the flame geometry includes biasingthe at least one electrode to have a different polarity as the flame sothat the flame is attracted to the at least one electrode.
 23. Themethod of claim 20 wherein charging at least one of the fuel or a flamegenerated from combustion of the fuel includes generating an ionic windthat flows into at least one of the fuel or the flame.
 24. The method ofclaim 20 wherein the refractory body includes a concavity on an exteriorside surface thereof from which the ionic wind emanates.
 25. The methodof claim 24, further comprising a counter electrode and a coronaelectrode disposed in the concavity of the refractory body, the coronaelectrode and the counter electrode configured to generate the ionicwind.